A woman running for the Decatur City Council allegedly lied to voters about having a felony on record in an attempt to mislead them in the days leading up to municipal elections.
Sarah French, who is running for the District 4 seat on the council, potentially changed her name immediately after being convicted of the felony. Following the conviction, it is believed she asked for a pardon and then withdrew it, eventually going by a different name, allowing her to allegedly claim she had no felony when filing to run.
French, however, may have a major hurdle to clear in her campaign to win the office. According to the Alabama Attorney General's office, she is not eligible for the position because of her prior felony conviction.
In 2020, the AG's office firmly established its position on the matter, citing Alabama Code §36-2-1 to explain factors that would disqualify potential candidates from running for office.
"Those who shall have been convicted of treason, embezzlement of public funds, malfeasance in office, larceny, bribery or any other crime punishable by imprisonment in the state or federal penitentiary and those who are idiots or insane."
Additionally, the Alabama Supreme Court has examined the meaning of the code, finding that it applies to a person "convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary."
According to court records, French was arrested and charged with felony marijuana possession in 2001, eventually pleading guilty to the charge.
French won 47% of the vote in the municipal election, but didn't clear the 50% threshold required to win. She is set to face off against Pam Wertsler in the city's only runoff election.
The polls for the race will open at 7 a.m. on September 23.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email [email protected].
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every day.
